Kansas University's Anrio Adams, left, tries to score against AMW Team France's Joseph Georgi during an exhibition match as part of Euro Jam Paris 2012, Sunday, August 12, 2012, at the Coubertin stadium in Paris.

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Paris  Kansas University coach Bill Self already knew winning without four potential starters was going to be difficult Sunday.

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KU men's basketball vs. AMW Team France (Game 2)

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That task became nearly impossible when AMW Team France’s Kevin Seraphin decided to elevate his game late.

The Washington Wizards forward — and 17th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft — dominated during a crucial stretch, helping to lift Team France to a 79-60 blowout victory over KU at Stade Pierre de Coubertine.

“In the second half,” Self said, “he showed that he’s a man.”

KU trailed just 51-50 with a minute to go in the third quarter before Seraphin took over.

The 6-foot-9, 275-pound forward scored seven points during a 19-2 run over the next five minutes that turned a close game into a rout.

Seraphin, who didn’t play in the two teams’ game Saturday, finished with 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting.

“I was just chilling at my house, and my friend told me there they’ve got a game against Kansas,” said Seraphin, who averaged six points and three rebounds for France’s national team in the Olympics earlier this month. “I said, ‘OK, let’s go. Let’s play.’”

Self went without seniors Elijah Johnson, Jeff Withey and Travis Releford, saying he wanted to get his young guys more experience. Another potential starter, Ben McLemore, also didn’t play because of a nagging groin injury.

Though that left the Jayhawks with just one scholarship upperclassman — senior Kevin Young — they still managed to take a 34-31 lead into halftime.

“We were just competing,” KU freshman guard Andrew White said. “That competitive edge and defending, that’ll hold a team in the game that’s missing their three star players.”

It didn’t keep the Jayhawks in it the whole game, though, as Seraphin’s inside presence contributed to the French making all seven of their two-point attempts in the fourth quarter.

“Offensively, we’re not very good. And we turn that sucker over at an alarming rate right now,” Self said. “Our newcomers are unbelievably poor at taking care of the basketball.”

The loss was the Jayhawks’ second straight defeat after not losing an exhibition game since 1995.

KU also fell to AMW Team France, 74-73, on Saturday.

“Our veterans need to really step up, because there’s no reason why we should have lost back-to-back games,” Self said. “Tonight’s a little bit expected, based on the personnel, but last night was inexcusable.”

Still, Self believed the freshman forward had the potential to play better.

“He’s a guy that, to me, his talent level is so high that he’s just got to be more aggressive all the time,” Self said. “If he’s not aggressive, then obviously, he doesn’t play to his talent level — to what I think it is.

“Because he’s one of those guys that gets 16 (points) and 12 (rebounds) in 20 minutes, and you think he should have had 25 and 16. So he’ll get better at that. He’s improved a lot since he’s started.”

Andrew White added 15 points on 5-for-13 shooting from the floor and 3-for-7 shooting for three.

The freshman guard White led KU in scoring average on its exhibition trip, posting 11 points per contest.

The Jayhawks ended their European exhibition tour with a 2-2 record.

“I think, if anything, it tells us how hard we need to work, because we’re not very good right now,” Self said. “I’m not sure anybody’s any good in early August, but we’re certainly not.”

The team will spend one more day in Paris before returning to Kansas on Tuesday.

I think Bill is sending a message to the freshman loud and clear, "Welcome to the big time...you are no longer the best player in your conference, or your city, or your state. You are now Jayhawks and you have a heck of a lot to learn.

He may be sending a message to his seniors and letter men....you've got to lead by example.

He may be sending us fans a message as well.....patience, this season is going to be a work in progress!!

The race for the 4th post spot is really a race. Some had speculated (me included) that Traylor, with Withey/Young/Ellis, was a foregone conclusion, and that Peters/Lucas were purely developmental this season. Europe changed that. It appears that Peters may be Self's preference, and that Peters is in the lead at the moment. The moment being about 200 meters into a 1500 meter race (using a timely Olympic reference).

Tharpe is the backup point guard. Period. There is really no other option. It also seems that he performed adequately, and had a decent assist count. He's better than last season. The type of progress you'd expect.

Andrew White is a player. Not only does it appear that he'll be a dead solid rotation guy this season, but that he may be an excellent three year starter after that. His shooting seems to be exactly what this team needs. His length makes him effective on the boards and other than stepping out of bounds multiple times, it's hard to be anything but excited about this guy.

EJ is continuing his pattern of poor three point shooting. He just keeps gunning them. Is there any hope he can be a 45% from 3 type of guy?

Releford has not changed much. His numbers show that he is continuing to be generally passive on the offensive end.

Doyle/Adams: Peas in a pod. Doyle seems a touch better at this point (maybe). At this stage, neither seem ready to contribute. But "this stage" is early August. I think reading the new guys are hard than, say, EJ and Releford based on these early performances.

The 24 second shot clock in Europe clearly played against what coach Self does on the offensive, so that really as to be considered.

McLemore: Is it a "hip" or a "groin"? Can't get a good read, other than we know he's a rotation player and likely starter.

Wesley: Slim to none on chances for significant playing time.

Ellis/Young battle for starting 4 spot. Young is still best off the bench, with some energy. Ellis seems to be the real deal. Young still might start early, but that's Ellis' spot. You can see what Ellis did yesterday, perhaps when he wasn't concerned about deferring to upperclassmen.

Post-Europe power rankings .. past spot in ( ) .. just my opinion. McLemore drops only by default. With White and Ellis, McLemore could make our freshmen class spectacular this season:

If McLemore isn't saddled with longlasting injury, top nine on your list look to be very promising. #s 10-14 really have something to shoot for if they manage many minutes. Wesley and Traylor probably not transfer material; but Lucas, Doyle and Adams had best give it their very best shot this season if they plan to stay.

Good analysis. Thanks. There was something about watching justin tv on the HD. I try to save the pain for the regular season. I will drive a thousand miles to watch a game on a football field, though. Can't wait to see what HCBS puts together. Don't see so many frosh playing early so he must be making some key decisions.

I have no idea what is meant by power rankings here, but you need to pay close attention to who contributes most to the team and then revise your positioning of EJ. I really worry about his play at point guard. Hopefully, Releford will play as he did in his best games last year. In some game he forgot to contribute like I think he can. Ellis and Peters are the best additions so far. Let's hope Tharpe can go against Big 12 competition and, of course, against some of the non league teams we face. I really think point guard is the problem this year. I sure hope I am wrong.

Doyle only played 5 minutes in the first 3 games, that's not enough time to prove anything, he still manage to contribute, if he played 15 mins i am sure he would contribute even more. Plus they are still learning each other, that's why the passing is off.

The fact that Ellis, Peters and Tharpe all look good are the keys to me. Ball-handling and taking over for TRob were the biggest concerns in the off-season, so if those 3 guys are ready to play that's huge. We know EJ, TRel, W and KYo will bring it, hopefully BMac recovers nicely and plays huge too. That's a heck of a rotation right there.
It's exciting for people to think so highly of White (HEM putting him at #4 for instance). Sure I liked the look of his shooting stroke from HS highlights, but not having seen any footage from the Europe trip I'll hold back before upping my expectations for him, which is to be an occasional shooter to put on the floor this season.
Just looking at the box score here I have to like Traylor grabbing 7brds in 11mins. I feel pretty confident Self will put him in from time to time when guys aren't getting after the boards as an example. Not bad numbers from Lucas really either.
I think Adams/Doyle will have a chance to get minutes later in the season if they can improve.
I saw that JacquesMerde is concerned about EJ's PG play, did he turn it over a lot on this trip? He looked sound with the ball when he handled it last year. I also think he knows playing well as a PG will be key to him heading to the NBA as teams would love to see a guy with his size/athleticism that knows how to control the ball and run an offense.